In-the-ear hearing aid device, a hearing aid, and an electro-acoustic transducer

ABSTRACT

An in-the-ear hearing aid device is disclosed. The device at least one electro-acoustic transducer, and at least one sensor or at least one active electronic component. The at least one electro-acoustic transducer comprises a capsule enclosing a transducer sound active part and a transducer air volume. The transducer air volume is air volume which is enclosed by said capsule and which is in fluid-connection with said transducer sound active part. At least a portion of said at least one sensor or of said at least one active electronic component is provided within said transducer air volume.

This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No.17/103,488 filed on Nov. 24, 2020, which is a Divisional of applicationSer. No. 16/273,849 filed on Feb. 12, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,911,867issued on Feb. 2, 2021, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)to European Patent Application No. 18166231.3 filed on Apr. 9, 2018 andEuropean Patent Application No. 18156412.1 filed on Feb. 13, 2018. Eachof the above applications is hereby expressly incorporated by reference,in its entirety, into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to hearing aids having anin-the-ear hearing aid device which includes an electro-acoustictransducer, for instance, receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids.

BACKGROUND

In-the-ear hearing aid devices comprise an exterior housing (of anin-the-ear unit thereof) and an electro-acoustic output transducerarranged therein. The electro-acoustic output transducer is calledreceiver and converts an electric audio signal into an acoustic soundsignal. The electric audio signal may be provided by a sound processor.The sound processor may receive an electric audio input signal andprocess the electric audio input signal to thus generate a processedelectric audio signal to be fed to the output transducer. The soundprocessor may be provided in a behind-the-ear (BTE) unit of the hearingaid. The electric audio input signal may be received from anelectro-acoustic input transducer. The electro-acoustic input transducermay be provided in the in-the-ear unit or may be provided in the BTEunit. The electro-acoustic input transducer is called microphone andconverts an acoustic sound signal into an electric audio signal.

In RITE hearing aids, the sound processor is typically arranged in theBTE unit and is connected to the electro-acoustic output transducer (andthe electro-acoustic input transducer) by way of electrically conductingwires arranged in a coupling element (connection tube) that mechanicallyconnects the in-the-ear unit to the behind-the-ear unit.

Recently, there was a development to place sensors and additionalelectronic components in the in-the-ear unit.

However, with adding sensors and/or additional electronic components tothe in-the-ear unit, the size of the in-the-ear-unit (the outerappearance thereof) increases, which leads to that a resultingin-the-ear unit cannot anymore be placed in the ear or ear canal of auser or at least placement therein causes discomfort for the user.Furthermore, it also prevents the in-the-ear unit to enter the deep partof the ear canal where posterior auricular arteries or deep auriculararteries are located within the head of the user.

US2014205122AA discloses an example of a hearing aid assembly comprisinga first part being a behind-the-ear part and a second part being anIn-the-Ear part, the first part comprising a DSP, the second partcomprising an electronic-auxiliary-function-unit and a receiver, whereinthe electronic-auxiliary-function-unit includes a microcontroller and isarranged for storing an identification string representing the receiver,and wherein the DSP is configured to request the identification stringfrom the microcontroller and adapt audio processing for the receiverbased on the received identification string. In US2014205122AA the DSP,the electronic auxiliary function unit are arranged outside thereceiver, and the disadvantage with this solution is that the size ofthe in-the-ear part increases due to the number of components arrangedwithin.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a solution that addresses at leastsome of the above-mentioned problems. The present disclosure provides atleast an alternative to the prior art.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided anin-the-ear hearing aid device. The in-the-ear hearing aid devicecomprises at least one electro-acoustic transducer. The in-the-earhearing aid device further comprises at least one sensor and/or at leastone active electronic component. The at least one electro-acoustictransducer comprises a capsule enclosing a transducer sound active partand a transducer air volume. Further, the transducer air volume is airvolume which is enclosed by said capsule and which is influid-connection with said transducer sound active part. Furthermore, atleast a portion of said at least one sensor and/or of said at least oneactive electronic component is provided within said transducer airvolume.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an in-the-ear hearing aid device. The in-the-ear hearing aiddevice comprises at least one electro-acoustic transducer. Thein-the-ear hearing aid device further comprises at least one sensorand/or at least one active electronic component. The at least oneelectro-acoustic transducer comprises a capsule enclosing a transducersound active part and a transducer air volume. Further, the transducerair volume is air volume which is enclosed by said capsule and which isin fluid-connection with said transducer sound active part. Furthermore,at least a portion of said at least one sensor and/or of said at leastone active electronic component is provided within the capsule andwithin said transducer air volume.

The advantage of providing or arranging the at least one sensor and/orthe at least one active electronic component within the capsule andwithin said transducer air volume is that the size of the in-the-earhearing aid device would not increase or increase significantly lesswhen comparing to known prior art where the at least one sensor and/orthe at least one active electronic component is placed outside thecapsule, i.e. within a housing of the in-the-ear hearing aid device butnot within the capsule of the at least one electro-acoustic transducerincluding a diaphragm

The in-the-ear hearing aid device may comprise one or more signalprocessors or microcontrollers configured to receive physiologicalinformation or biometric signals from a body of a user of thein-the-ear-hearing aid device or the electro-acoustic transducer. Theone or more signal processors may be configured to process thephysiological information or the biometric signal into a processedsignal which may be used for monitoring the health of the user,environmental monitors, and for therapy.

Preferably, the transducer air volume may be air volume which isenclosed by said capsule and which is in fluid-connection with saidtransducer sound active part and with said capsule.

At least part of said capsule may form an exterior housing of saidin-the-ear hearing aid device defining an outer contour of saidin-the-ear hearing aid device.

The capsule may form a housing of said at least one electro-acoustictransducer.

The capsule may include a receiver outlet of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice, wherein a passage through said receiver outlet is influid-connection with an outlet opening in said housing of said at leastone electro-acoustic transducer, wherein said outlet opening is influid-connection with said transducer sound active part.

The capsule may include an elastic dome of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice to fit into an ear canal of a user, wherein a passage throughsaid elastic dome is in fluid-connection with said receiver outlet. Theelastic dome may be attached to the capsule.

The capsule may include a connection tube of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice, wherein a passage through said connection tube is influid-connection with an opening in said housing of said at least oneelectro-acoustic transducer, wherein said opening is in fluid-connectionwith said transducer sound active part.

The passage through said connection tube may be in fluid-connection withan opening in a housing of a behind-the-ear hearing aid device.

The capsule may include a microphone inlet of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice, wherein a passage through said microphone inlet is influid-connection with an inlet opening in said housing of said at leastone electro-acoustic transducer, wherein said inlet opening is influid-connection with said transducer sound active part.

The at least one electro-acoustic transducer may be one of a microphoneand a receiver.

The transducer sound active part may comprise at least one of amembrane, a diaphragm, an electromagnetic mechanism, and a soundvibrating unit.

At least a portion of said at least one sensor and at least a portion ofsaid at least one active electronic component may be provided withinsaid transducer air volume, wherein a line of sight between said portionof said at least one sensor and said portion of said at least one activeelectronic component is shielded by a portion of said electro-acoustictransducer.

At least a portion of a first sensor and at least a portion of a secondsensor may be provided within said transducer air volume, wherein a lineof sight between said portion of said first sensor and said portion ofsaid second sensor is shielded by a portion of said electro-acoustictransducer or by said portion of said at least one active electroniccomponent.

Furthermore, the shielding may be provided by guiding means, wherein afirst guiding mean is configured to guide a biometric signal, i.e. asignal generated by a body of the user in response to a signal generatedby said at least one active electronic component, to said sensor Asecond guiding mean may be configured to guide an emitted signal, suchas a light signal, from the at least one active electronic component tothe body of the user, e.g. the ear canal of the user. A guiding mean maybe an optical fiber or a hollow plastic or metal tube.

The capsule may comprise at least one measurement opening. In such case,the at least one measurement opening may be provided with anelectromagnetic filter configured to prevent electromagnetic waveshaving a frequency lower than a predetermined noise shielding frequencyfrom entering said capsule through said at least one measurementopening.

The electromagnetic filter may comprise at least one of a mesh or anoptically transparent material.

The predetermined noise shielding frequency may be anyone of not audiblefrequencies.

The at least one sensor may comprise at least one of a temperaturesensing element, a light sensing element, a sound sensing element, ahumidity sensor, a moisture sensing element, a blood oximetry sensorincluding at least two light emitting elements and a light sensingelement, a blood pressure sensor, a blood sugar sensor, a pulse sensor,a hydration sensor, a galvanic skin response electrode, anelectroencephalography electrode, and an electrooculography electrode.

The at least one sensor may be a footstep sensor, a heart rate sensor, apulse sensor, an ECG sensor, a pulse oximeter sensor, or a biologicalsensor. The biological sensor may include a pulse oximeter and/ortemperature sensor, a blood alcohol level sensor, a blood glucosesensor, a bilirubin sensor, a blood pressure sensor, anelectroencephalogram sensor, an Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) sensor, alactic acid sensor, a hemoglobin sensor, a hematocrit sensor, or otherbiological sensor. The electro-acoustic transducer may further include achemical sensor. The electro-acoustic transducer may further include atleast one inertial sensor. The inertial sensor may be an accelerometer,a gyrometer, a gyro sensor, a magnetometer or other sensor.

The in-the-ear hearing aid or the electro-acoustic transducer maycomprise at least one footstep sensor configured to sense footsteps ofthe user wearing the electro-acoustic transducer or the in-the-earhearing aid, and to produce a footstep signal in response to the sensedfootsteps. One or more signal processors comprised by the in-the-earhearing aid and/or the electro-acoustic transducer may be configured toreceive physiological signal and footstep signal from one or moresensors provided within said transducer air volume. The signalprocessors may be configured to process the physiological signal toproduce at least one processed signal containing cleaner physiologicalinformation from the person using the footstep signal. The signalprocessors may be configured to process the footstep signal to produceat least one processed footstep signal containing cleaner informationabout footsteps of the person. In one example, the physiologicalinformation may be similar to a biometric signal.

The in-the-ear hearing aid or the electro-acoustic transducer may beused within the field of personal health and environmental monitors, forexample, for gauging overall health and metabolism during exercise,athletic training, dieting, daily life activities, sickness, andphysical therapy.

Detection or monitoring of neuropsychiatric disorders, namely depressionand anxiety disorders, such as PTSD, is accomplished by the in-the-earhearing aid device or the electro-acoustic transducer. In this example,a group of sensors is provided within said transducer air volume, wherethe group of sensors may comprise a blood pressure sensor and a heartrate sensor. A signal processor configured to receive the physiologicalinformation (or biometric signals) from the blood pressure sensor andthe heart rate sensor may detect or monitor an increase in heart rateand blood pressure of the user wearing the in-the-ear hearing aid deviceor the electro-acoustic transducer. A first increase rate of theincrease in the heart rate may be above a first threshold, and a secondincrease rate of the increase in the blood pressure may be above asecond threshold, and in this situation, the user may havePost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The detection or monitoring ofPTSD may be further improved by connecting the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice or the electro-acoustic transducer to an external devicewirelessly or wired, where the external device provides information onwhat the user is seeing to the signal processor. The signal processormay be placed in the in-the-ear hearing aid device or in theelectro-acoustic transducer, or the signal processor may be configuredto transmit the processed physiological information, i.e. the bloodpressure and heart rate, to another signal processor in the externaldevice. The another signal processor or the signal processor may beconfigured to combine the measure of the blood pressure and the heartrate with the information on what the user is seeing for detecting PTSD.The information on what the user is seeing may be generated by a camera,a virtual reality glass, a monitor or any kind of a device configured toprovide an image containing the information on what the user is seeing.

The information on what the user is seeing may be replaced or combinedwith what the user is listening too. The user may receive an acousticalsound from the electro-acoustic transducer, from the external device orfrom another electro-acoustic transducer within a hearing aid device.Thereby, the detection or monitoring of PTSD may be further improved bythe signal processor configured to combine the measure of the bloodpressure and the heart rate with the information on what the user islistening too.

A portable monitoring device comprising a hearing aid device having ahousing, at least one microphone for receiving ambient sound, an audiosignal processor configured for processing a signal from the microphone,and the electro-acoustic transducer, said portable monitoring devicefurther comprising an EEG monitoring system for monitoring EEG signalsof a person using the hearing aid, and wherein said EEG monitoringsystem may be partly arranged in said transducer air volume, said EEGmonitoring system comprising

said at least one sensor configured for measuring one or more EEGsignals from the person carrying the EEG monitor, said at least onesensor may be multiple electrodes, being arranged partly or completelyon the outer surface of the capsule of the electro-acoustic transduceror an outer wall of the capsule comprises partly or completely said atleast one sensor, and

an EEG signal processing mean for analysing the one or more EEG signals,said audio signal processing mean being adapted for, based on the EEGsignal, identifying or predicting specific biological incidences, insaid person, said audio signal processing mean comprising decision meansfor deciding, based on said analysed EEG signal, when an alarm orinformation must be provided to said person, wherein said acousticsignal processing means being arranged in said housing; and the housingcomprises means for providing said alarm or information through saidoutput transducer or via a wireless link to an external device.

For many hearing impaired persons using a hearing aid it may bedifficult to handle this small high tech product. This may especially bea problem to elderly persons. If these persons are also equipped with anEEG monitoring system, which also needs correct handling in order tofunction properly, the risk of incorrect handling of at least one ofthese two devices will most likely increase significantly. This imposesa risk of missing an alarm of an upcoming biological incidence, such ashypoglycemia, or of not having the possible optimal hearing.

Therefore, it will often be a problem to equip elderly persons with botha hearing aid and an EEG monitoring system, both being equipment towhich they must pay attention and handle in specific different ways inorder to obtain the benefits of these devices. Also, more devicesarranged on the body of a person increase the risk of overlooking one.Further, a hearing aid user often needs two hearing aids.

The above problem has been solved by arranging the EEG monitoring systemin said transducer air volume of the electro-acoustic transducer.

Furthermore, the advantage of arranging the EEG monitoring system insaid transducer air volume is that the size of the electro-acoustictransducer does not increase because the EEG monitoring system isutilizing air volume which is not occupied by other electronicscomponents.

Thereby, if the electro-acoustic transducer is placed in the in-the-earhearing aid device, the user will not feel more uncomfortable whenwearing the in-the-ear hearing aid device when comparing to anin-the-ear hearing aid device with a regular electro-acoustic transducerwithout the EEG monitoring system.

The portable monitoring device comprising adjustment means for adjustingthe sound level of a sound message according to the acoustic backgroundnoise level in order to make the sound message clearly discernible overthe background noise.

The external device may be a smartphone configured to display the alarmor play the sound message. This is specially an advantage when a parentor an adult to the user of the portable monitoring device wants toreceive the alarm or the information. Thereby, it is possible for theparent or the adult to monitor the health of the user distantly.

Said biological incidence may be hypoglycemia.

The EEG monitoring system may be adapted for a wireless connection to anEEG processing unit comprising the EEG signal processing means and beingpart of the EEG monitoring system.

The EEG monitoring system may comprise an electronic module, and saidelectronic module may be connected with the at least one sensor, andfurther being connected with communication means for transmitting theEEG signal to the EEG processing unit.

The at least one active electronic component may comprise at least oneof a light emitting diode, a pre-processor, a digital sound processor,an amplifier, a pre-amplifier, an AD-converter, a DA-converter, a sensorprocessing circuitry, a sensor fusion circuitry, a digital speakercommunication bus, a bus controller circuitry, a memory, and amicrocontroller.

The transducer air volume may be separated into a first transducer airvolume and a second transducer air volume not in fluid-connection withsaid first transducer air volume.

In such case, the first transducer air volume is larger in volume thansaid second transducer air volume. Further, in such case, the portion ofsaid at least one sensor or of said at least one active electroniccomponent may be provided within said first transducer air volume. Thefirst transducer air volume is in fluid-connection to a volume outsidethe housing of said at least one electro-acoustic transducer via theoutlet opening an/or via the inlet opening. Thereby, the volume of thefirst transducer air volume is actual a sum of the first transducer airvolume within said housing and the volume outside said housing.Therefore, by placing at least a portion of said at least one sensorand/or of said at least one active electronic component in the firsttransducer air volume will not result in an increase of the volume ofthe housing because the acoustical performance of said at least oneactive electronic component is not affected by the occupation of volumeby the at least a portion of said at least one sensor and/or of said atleast one active electronic component.

At least a portion of at least another sensor and/or of at least anotheractive electronic component may be provided within said secondtransducer air volume. Said second transducer air volume is smaller thansaid first transducer air volume, however, by placing a limited numberof at least the portion of at least another sensor and/or of at leastanother active electronic component within said second transducer airvolume has a slightly impact on the acoustical performance of the atleast one electro-acoustic transducer. The impact may not be noticeablefor the user of the transducer.

Alternatively, the portion of said at least one sensor or of said atleast one active electronic component may be provided within said secondtransducer air volume.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a hearing aid. The hearing aid comprises any form of the abovediscussed in-the-ear hearing aid device. The hearing aid furthercomprises a behind-the-ear hearing aid device. The hearing aid furthercomprises a coupling element configured to mechanically and/orelectrically connect said in-the-ear hearing aid device and saidbehind-the-ear hearing aid device.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an electro-acoustic transducer. The electro-acoustic transducercomprises at least one sensor or at least one active electroniccomponent. The electro-acoustic transducer further comprises a capsuleenclosing a transducer sound active part and a transducer air volume.The transducer air volume is air volume which is enclosed by saidcapsule and which is in fluid-connection with said transducer soundactive part. At least a portion of said at least one sensor or of saidat least one active electronic component is provided within saidtransducer air volume.

By occupying part of the air volume within the electro-acoustictransducer with at least the portion of said at least one sensor and/orof said at least one active electronic component then the size of theelectro-acoustic transducer does not increase, and thereby, it ispossible to create an intelligent electro-acoustic transducer withoutthe need of increasing the size of the electro-acoustic transducer. Theelectro-acoustic transducer is therefore suitable for being placed insmall space area, such as in an ear canal, a smartphone, a smartwatch, ahearing device, such as a headphone, a headset, or any kind ofelectronic device with size restriction.

Preferably, the transducer air volume may be air volume which isenclosed by said capsule and which is in fluid-connection with saidtransducer sound active part and with said capsule.

The at least one electro-acoustic transducer may be one of a microphoneand a receiver.

The transducer sound active part may comprise at least one of amembrane, a diaphragm, an electromagnetic mechanism, and a soundvibrating unit.

At least a portion of said at least one sensor and at least a portion ofsaid at least one active electronic component may be provided withinsaid transducer air volume, wherein a line of sight between said portionof said at least one sensor and said portion of said at least one activeelectronic component is shielded by a portion of said electro-acoustictransducer or by said portion of said at least one active electroniccomponent.

Furthermore, the shielding may be provided by guiding means, wherein afirst guiding mean is configured to guide a biometric signal, i.e. asignal generate by a body of the user in response to a signal generatedby said at least one active electronic component, to said sensor

A second guiding mean may be configured to guide an emitted signal, suchas a light signal, from the at least one active electronic component tothe body of the user, e.g. the ear canal of the user. A guiding mean maybe an optical fiber or a hollow plastic or metal tube.

At least a portion of a first sensor and at least a portion of a secondsensor may be provided within said transducer air volume, wherein a lineof sight between said portion of said first sensor and said portion ofsaid second sensor is shielded by a portion of said electro-acoustictransducer.

The capsule may comprise at least one measurement opening, and said atleast one measurement opening is provided with an electromagnetic filterconfigured to prevent electromagnetic waves having a frequency lowerthan a predetermined noise shielding frequency from entering saidcapsule through said at least one measurement opening.

The advantage of having an electromagnetic filter, such as an EMI mesh,is that light is able to pass through the mesh while filtering EM noise.Thereby, it is possible to place light emitting sensors within thecapsule without inducing EM noise to the electro-acoustic transducer.

The at least one sensor may comprise at least one of a temperaturesensing element, a light sensing element, a sound sensing element, amoisture sensing element, a blood oximetry sensor including at least twolight emitting elements and a light sensing element, a blood pressuresensor, a blood glucose sensor, an insulin sensor, a pulse sensor, ahydration sensor, a galvanic skin response electrode, anelectroencephalography electrode, and an electrooculography electrode.Furthermore, the at least one sensor may be one or more biosensorsconfigured for measure and quantify ketone levels of the blood of aperson.

The at least one active electronic component may comprise at least oneof a light emitting diode, a pre-processor, a digital sound processor,an amplifier, a pre-amplifier, an AD-converter, a DA-converter, a sensorprocessing circuitry, a sensor fusion circuitry, a digital speakercommunication bus, a bus controller circuitry, a memory, and amicrocontroller.

The transducer air volume may be separated into a first transducer airvolume and a second transducer air volume not in fluid-connection withsaid first transducer air volume. Then, the first transducer air volumeis larger in volume than said second transducer air volume, and theportion of said at least one sensor or of said at least one activeelectronic component is provided within said first transducer airvolume. The first transducer air volume is in fluid-connection to avolume outside the capsule of said at least one electro-acoustictransducer via the outlet opening. Thereby, the volume of the firsttransducer air volume is actual a sum of the first transducer air volumewithin said capsule and the volume outside said capsule. Therefore, byplacing at least a portion of said at least one sensor and/or of said atleast one active electronic component in the first transducer air volumewill not result in an increase of the volume of the capsule because theacoustical performance of said at least one active electronic componentis not affected by the occupation of volume by the at least a portion ofsaid at least one sensor and/or of said at least one active electroniccomponent.

Said transducer air volume is separated into a first transducer airvolume and a second transducer air volume by said transducer soundactive part. Furthermore, a first group of one or more sensors may beplaced within the first transducer air volume and a second group ofmultiple sensors may be placed within the second transducer air volumeor vice versa, and wherein the first group and the second group arearranged such that the sensors of both groups are arranged in atrigonometric structure configured for generating a biometric signal,e.g. including foot step detection.

In the example where the electro-acoustic transducer is positioned inthe ear canal, the position of said at least one sensor and/or of saidat least one active electronic component is relevant in order forobtaining an optimal detection of physiological information, i.e.biometric signals, from the body of the user with, i.e. thesignal-to-noise ratio of the biometric signal or the physiologicalinformation is sufficient to obtain reliable physiological measures,such as heart rate, pulse, blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure, EEG,oxygen saturation, PTSD measure and/or body temperature etc.

The capsule has a first end and a second end, wherein the outlet openingor the inlet opening is positioned closest to the first end. Said atleast one sensor and/or said at least one active electronic componentmay be arranged closest to the first end. Said at least one sensorand/or said at least one active electronic component arranged closest tothe first end or arranged at the first end is positioned deep into theear canal of the user. The obtained advantage is a bettersignal-to-noise ratio of the physiological information or biometricsignal. In an optical system, where the at least one sensor is aphotodetector and the at least one active electronic component is one ormore light emitting diodes, the improved signal-to-noise ratio isobtained due to less stray light from the surroundings interfering withthe measurement of the physiological information or the biometricsignal.

The capsule may have at least one sensor and/or the at least one activeelectronic component placed partly within the transducer air volume andon an inner surface of a wall of the capsule, or on an outer surface ofa wall of the capsule where the wiring to the at least one sensor and/orthe at least one active electronic component enters the transducer airvolume. Both the inner surface of the wall and the outer surface of thewall may have a corner and an edge. Additionally, the at least onesensor and/or the at least one active electronic component may bearranged at or near the corner and/or at or near the edge. Thereby, adistance between the skin of the ear canal and the at least one sensorand/or the at least one active electronic component is minimized whenthe electro-acoustic transducer is placed within the ear canal, e.g.when the electro-acoustic transducer is comprised by an in-the-earhearing aid device. The advantage of the minimized distance is that thequality of the physiological information or the biometric signal isimproved.

In another example, the inner surface of the wall of the capsule or theouter surface of the wall of the capsule may have a centre axis, whereinthe at least one sensor and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent may be arranged around the centre axis. The advantage is thatthe fabrication of the electro-acoustic transducer becomes simpler.

In the vicinity of the ear canal several main arteries are locatedwithin the head of a person, the so-called Superficial temporal artery,Anterior auricular artery, Maxillary artery, Posterior auricular artery,Internal carotid artery and External carotid artery. The ear canal has alongitudinal axis extending from the opening of the ear canal towardsthe eardrum of the ear canal. The ear canal has a transverse axisextending orthogonal or partially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.Where the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis intersects eachother within the ear canal defines a centre point in the ear canal. Eachmain artery is positioned relative to the ear canal as following;

-   -   External carotid artery or Internal carotid artery is positioned        below the ear canal and within a line of sight angle defined        from the centre point in the ear canal directed along the        transverse axis, and where the line of sight angle is between        45° and 120°, between 90° and 110°, and between 35° and 160°,    -   Internal carotid artery is partly positioned below and above the        ear canal and within a line of sight angle defined from the        centre point in the ear canal directed along the transverse axis        or the longitudinal axis inwards the ear canal, and where the        line of sight angle is between 45° and 120°, between 90° and        110°, and between 35° and 160°,    -   Posterior auricular artery is positioned below the ear canal and        within a line of angle defined from the centre point in the ear        canal directed along the transverse axis, and where the line of        sight angle is between 10° and 45°, between 5° and 25°, and        between 90° and 110°,    -   Superficial temporal artery is positioned above the ear canal        and within a line of sight angle defined from the centre point        in the ear canal directed along the transverse axis and in a        forward direction towards a face of the user, and where the line        of sight angle is between 10° and 45°, between 5° and 25°, and        between 90° and 110, and    -   Anterior auricular artery and Maxillary artery, are positioned        within a line of sight angle defined from the centre point in        the ear canal directed along the transverse axis and in a        forward direction towards a face of the user, and where the line        of sight angle is between 10° and 45°, between 5° and 25°, and        between 90° and 110.

The capsule enclosing the transducer air volume may comprise alongitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the longitudinal axisof the capsule and the longitudinal axis of the ear canal is extendingin parallel or partially parallel, and wherein the transverse axis ofthe capsule and the transverse axis of the ear canal is extending inparallel or partially parallel.

The at least one senor may have a first line of sight and/or the atleast one active electronic component may have a second line of sight.The at least one sensor and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent may be arranged within the transducer air volume such that thefirst line of sight and/or the second line of sight is directed towardsone or more of the main arteries.

The at least one sensor may be arranged such that the first line ofsight is directed within the line of sight angle towards one or more ofthe main arteries.

In one example, the at least one active electronic component may bearranged such that the second line of sight is directed within the lineof sight angle towards one or more of the main arteries.

The inlet opening or the outlet opening may have a mechanical interfaceconfigured to receive an earpiece. Normally, the mechanical interface issymmetric in all directions, i.e. a user of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice has the possibility of mounting the earpiece to the mechanicalinterface such that the at least one sensor and/or the at least oneactive electronic component is positioned wrongly within the ear canalof the user.

The mechanical interface may have one or two symmetrical axes, whereinthe number of possible angles for mounting the earpiece to themechanical interface has reduced to one or two ways, respectively.Thereby, the usability has improved because the possibility of placingthe earpiece such that the at least one sensor and/or the at least oneactive electronic component is arranged wrongly within the ear canal hasreduced significantly. Where only one symmetrical axis, then it is notpossible for the user to mount the earpiece wrongly to the mechanicalinterface.

The capsule may have both the outlet opening and the inlet opening,where the electro-acoustic transducer may be a microphone and areceiver.

The electro-acoustic transducer may comprise an optical system includingthe at least one sensor which may be a photodetector, and the at leastone active electronic component which may be one or more light emittingdiodes. Several problems may occur in the optical system, such as lightfrom outside may ruin the measurement of the at least one sensor, lightfrom the light emitting diode(s) may be seen from outside when the useris in darkness, reflections from the skin surface of the ear canal, andlight from outside exiting through the skin of the ear canal and in tothe at least one sensor. To solve one or more of the problems, thecapsule may comprise an outer guiding mean for both the at least onesensor and the at least one active electronic component, wherein theouter guiding mean may be mounted on to an outer surface of a wall ofthe capsule or implemented into the earpiece provided on the mechanicalinterface. The outer guiding mean may comprise a light guiding material.A different solution to one or more of the mentioned problems could beto provide an earpiece to the mechanical interface or the capsule, wherethe shape of the earpiece is configured to prevent light from outside tointerfere with the at least one sensor measurement. Another earpiece maybe provided to the capsule, wherein the at least one sensor and/or theat least one active electronic component may be arranged between theanother earpiece and the earpiece.

The sensors may further be able to measure or monitor changes in theuser-behaviour of the hearing aid including the sensors. Informationcollected by the sensors in the in-the-ear hearing aid can betransferred into predictive algorithms included in a processor of thehearing aid, and allow to provide better service to the end-user with,for example, better remote fitting services

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The objects of the disclosure may be best understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures.The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just showdetails to improve the understanding of the claims, while other detailsare left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used foridentical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each objectmay each be combined with any or all features of the other objects.These and other objects, features and/or technical effect will beapparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrationsdescribed hereinafter in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid;

FIG. 3 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid;

FIG. 4 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a transducer sound active part according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 15 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 16 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 17 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 19 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 20 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 21 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 22 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 23 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 24 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 25 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 26 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 27 illustrates a receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid in a communicationscenario according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 28 illustrates an ear canal and main arteries within a head of auser;

FIG. 29 illustrates different positions of the at least one sensorand/or the at one active electronic component within the transducer airvolume;

FIG. 30 illustrates different positions of the at least one sensorand/or the at one active electronic component within the transducer airvolume;

FIG. 31 illustrates a mechanical interface of the capsule or thein-the-ear hearing aid device;

FIG. 32 illustrates an in-the-ear hearing aid device comprising anoptical system;

FIG. 33 illustrates the in-the-ear hearing aid device with an earpiece;

FIG. 34 illustrates different examples of an earpiece;

FIG. 35 illustrates further different examples of an earpiece;

FIG. 36 illustrates different examples of guiding means; and

FIG. 37 illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of a receiver-in-the-earhearing aid according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations. Thedetailed description includes specific details for the purpose ofproviding a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may bepracticed without these specific details. Several aspects of theapparatus and methods are described by various blocks, functional units,modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc.(collectively referred to as “elements”). Depending upon particularapplication, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may beimplemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or anycombination thereof.

The electronic hardware may include microprocessors, microcontrollers,digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gated logic, discretehardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform thevarious functionality described throughout this disclosure. Computerprogram shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instructionsets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, softwaremodules, applications, software applications, software packages,routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution,procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

A hearing device or a hearing aid device may include a hearing aid thatis adapted to improve or augment the hearing capability of a user byreceiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating acorresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal andproviding the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to atleast one of the user's ears. The “hearing device” may further refer toa device such as an earphone or a headset adapted to receive an audiosignal electronically, possibly modifying the audio signal and providingthe possibly modified audio signals as an audible signal to at least oneof the user's ears. Such audible signals may be provided in the form ofan acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear, or an acousticsignal transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner earsthrough bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of middleear of the user or electric signals transferred directly or indirectlyto cochlear nerve and/or to auditory cortex of the user.

The hearing aid device is adapted to be worn in any known way. This mayinclude i) arranging a unit of the hearing aid device behind the earwith a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals into the ear canal orwith a receiver/loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal suchas in a Behind-the-Ear type hearing aid, and/or ii) arranging thehearing aid device entirely or partly in the pinna and/or in the earcanal of the user such as in a In-the-Ear type hearing aid orIn-the-Canal/Completely-in-Canal type hearing aid, or iii) arranging aunit of the hearing aid device attached to a fixture implanted into theskull bone such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant, oriv) arranging a unit of the hearing aid device as an entirely or partlyimplanted unit such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant.

A “hearing system” refers to a system comprising one or two hearing aiddevices, and a “binaural hearing system” refers to a system comprisingtwo hearing aid devices where the devices are adapted to cooperativelyprovide audible signals to both of the user's ears. The hearing systemor binaural hearing system may further include auxiliary device(s) thatcommunicates with at least one hearing aid device, the auxiliary deviceaffecting the operation of the hearing aid devices and/or benefitingfrom the functioning of the hearing aid devices. A wired or wirelesscommunication link between the at least one hearing aid device and theauxiliary device is established that allows for exchanging information(e.g. control and status signals, possibly audio signals) between the atleast one hearing aid device and the auxiliary device. Such auxiliarydevices may include at least one of remote controls, remote microphones,audio gateway devices, mobile phones, public-address systems, car audiosystems or music players or a combination thereof. The audio gateway isadapted to receive a multitude of audio signals such as from anentertainment device like a TV or a music player, a telephone apparatuslike a mobile telephone or a computer, a PC. The audio gateway isfurther adapted to select and/or combine an appropriate one of thereceived audio signals (or combination of signals) for transmission tothe at least one hearing aid device. The remote control is adapted tocontrol functionality and operation of the at least one hearing aiddevices. The function of the remote control may be implemented in aSmartphone or other electronic device, the Smartphone/electronic devicepossibly running an application that controls functionality of the atleast one hearing aid device.

In general, a hearing aid device includes i) an input unit such as amicrophone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundingsand providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receivingunit for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing aiddevice further includes a signal processing unit for processing theinput audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal tothe user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. forproviding direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directionalmicrophone system is adapted to enhance a target acoustic source among amultitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment. In one aspect,the directional system is adapted to detect (such as adaptively detect)from which direction a particular part of the microphone signaloriginates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods.The signal processing unit may include amplifier that is adapted toapply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signalprocessing unit may further be adapted to provide other relevantfunctionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unitmay include an output transducer such as a loudspeaker/receiver forproviding an air-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously orpercutaneously to the skull bone or a vibrator for providing astructure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing aiddevices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes forproviding the electric signals such as in a Cochlear Implant.

The electro-acoustic output transducer may comprise a driver, e.g. adiaphragm or a moving magnetic armature, that moves according to theelectric audio signal driving the electro-acoustic output transducer tothus generate air movements that can be perceived as acoustic sound. Inthe present document, the driver is also named transducer sound activepart. The driver of the electro-acoustic output transducer is arrangedin an air-filled volume. The air filled volume may include a volume onboth sides of e.g. the diaphragm of a driver of the output transducer.At least one part of the air-filled volume the driver acts on is fluidconnected to a sound outlet of the in-the-ear hearing aid. The soundoutlet is defined by an opening of the exterior housing surrounding theelectro-acoustic output transducer.

FIG. 5 illustrates a transducer sound active part according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

The electro-acoustic output transducer schematically illustrated in thisFigure comprises a driver that is configured to drive the air next tothe driver to thus create sound waves. The driver may comprise adiaphragm 41 that is driven by an electromagnetic actuator 51 comprisingan electric coil 52 and a magnet 53. The electric coil 52 and the magnet53 are configured to allow relative movement between each other inresponse to an electric signal that causes a magnetic flux in the coil52. Thus, the electromagnetic actuator 51 can convert an electric audiosignal into mechanic vibrations that can generate acoustic sound waves.Accordingly, an electric audio signal can be converted into an acousticsound signal by means of the electromechanical actuator 51 and thediaphragm 41. One known type of an electro-acoustic output transducer isa balanced-armature speaker. Next to the diaphragm 41 or other movingpart of the electro-acoustic output transducer an air-filled acousticvolume is provided that contains the air that is driven by the driverwhen operated. The air-filled acoustic volume may be fluid connected toa sound outlet of an exterior housing of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice.

A comparable structure may be present in an electro-acoustic inputtransducer (i.e. a microphone), where the parts receiving air movementsthat can be perceived as acoustic sound and converting them intoelectric audio signals correspond to the transducer sound active part ofthe electro-acoustic input transducer.

Typically, the electro-acoustic output transducer is arranged in atransducer capsule encapsulating the electro-acoustic output transducerand defining the air-filled volume the driver acts on.

Now referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates a receiver-in-the-ear hearingaid device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

According to FIG. 1, the receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid 10 comprises anin-the-ear hearing aid device 11, a connection tube 12, and abehind-the-ear hearing aid device 13. The behind-the-ear hearing aiddevice 13 is enclosed by a housing 13 a of the behind-the-ear hearingaid device 13.

As mentioned above, recently, there was a development to place sensorsand additional electronic components in the in-the-ear unit, inparticular, in the ear canal of a user wearing the respective hearingaids. However, while the addition of sensors or other electroniccomponents demand space, the ear canals of the users still have the samesizes. Hence, the sensors/components are to be accommodated in thein-the-ear hearing aid device of roughly the same size as earlierdevices.

Now referring to FIG. 2 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid.

In particular, in FIG. 2 an in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 isillustrated including a (an elastic) dome 11 a to fit into an ear canalof a user. The in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 further comprises atransducer 21 as well as sensors/components 22.

An option of implementing sensors/components 22 in the in-the-earhearing aid device is filling those standard sensors into an in-the-earhearing aid device housing (speaker unit housing) while using the boxshaped acoustic transducers/speakers 21. Here, both the sensor(s) andthe acoustic transducers has an air volume in/around each of them.

Now referring to FIG. 3 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid.

In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates an in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 asshown in FIG. 2, where additionally a microphone (input transducer) 31is arranged as well as further sensors/components 32.

Now referring to FIG. 4 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the sensors/components 42 are placed within atransducer air volume which is enclosed by capsule 40 and is in fluidconnection with a transducer sound active part 41.

In other words, the sensors/components are integrated in the acousticvolumes of the acoustic transducers.

In this way, the empty air volumes around the transducers can beutilized (at least) twice. Only the actual volume of the solid materialin the sensors needs to be added to the acoustic volume. Thereby,clearance for tolerances, distance for optical focus, cavities for wirescan be reduced significantly, making a sensor enabled speaker unit(in-the-ear hearing aid device 11) close to the same size as the normalspeaker unit.

In view of a considerable air volume typically held by electro-acoustictransducers, an effect of the at least one sensor on the acousticcharacteristics of the transducer is not noticeable to the user.

The integration of the “naked” acoustic transducer mechanisms may beaccompanied with more details in the speaker unit housing correspondingto the capsule 40 of the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11.

In so doing, the speaker unit (in-the-ear hearing aid device 11) housingdoes not have double wall thickness but instead may consist of only thecapsule 40 of the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11.

With speaker and microphone acoustic volumes integrated inhousing/capsule, an improved ear-shaped speaker unit (in-the-ear hearingaid device 11) can be made with the same (or improved) performance.

Namely, when omitting standard housings of microphones and insteadembedding the “interior” of the microphones respectively into thecapsule of the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11, for example cornersnormally protruding can be avoided, and potentially even larger acousticvolumes can be provided for the microphones while the outer shape of thein-the-ear hearing aid device 11 (the capsule 40 thereof) can still beimproved to the needs of an ear canal.

At least a portion of the electro-acoustic transducer may protrude intothe elastic dome 11 a. According to a specific embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the electro-acoustic transducer may be enclosed by theelastic dome 11 a.

The capsule 40 with integrated acoustic transducer chambers andsensor/component chambers can be made in injection molded plastic or itcan be made (even thinner and thereby smaller) out of metal.

The metal may be coated to prevent ESD problems.

The metal may be e.g. CNC milled, deep drawn sheet metal, MIM molded ordie cast.

The metal may be e.g. stainless steel, aluminum or titanium, but is notlimited to such material.

Thus, the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 (the acoustic transducer(s)thereof) can be integrated in combination with (other) sensors. Anysensor could be integrated (hydration, blood pressure, temperature,galvanic skin resistance, electroencephalography (EEG), etc., eachconsidering the respective needs.

The sensor 42 arranged within the transducer air volume is preferably atemperature sensor.

Namely, many body conditions and diseases affect the body temperaturethroughout a certain period. Normal temperature measurements aresnapshots in time of the temperature, e.g. in the morning or in theevening, while in particular a permanent temperature measurement canreveal a temperature development and thus allows for example thedistinction of sudden and continuous temperature changes.

By constantly monitoring the body temperature, any uncommon bodyconditions can be seen immediately. Further, for example hypothermiaduring outdoor activities in the wintertime or hyperthermia duringphysical activities in the summer time can be detected.

Things like blood sugar also affects the temperature. For elderlypeople, temperature might be particularly relevant to monitor often.Temperature is as well a valuable parameter to know in common healthmonitoring.

The ear canals are a good place for constantly measuring thetemperature. Since hearing aids are constantly on the ears, often usedby elderly people, while health monitoring gives advantages in relationto immediate reaction to health worsing, ears are a preferable place formeasuring temperature.

It is preferred to have the thermistor near the front of theelectro-acoustic transducer (innermost in the ear canal) since thetemperature at this point is closest to the body temperature (especiallywhen wearing a closed earpiece).

By having a thermometer on the inner side of the elastic dome 11 a ofthe in-the-ear hearing aid device 11, the body temperature can bemonitored very accurate.

In the example where the thermometer is arranged on the inner side ofthe elastic dome 11 a, the thermometer is connected to a signalprocessor arranged within the transducer air volume 43. The connectionmay be between a first contact plate mounted on the elastic dome or onthe thermometer and a second contact plate mounted on the capsule andwherein an electrical connection is between the second contact plate andthe signal processor. The first contact plate and the second contactplate may be replaced with a galvanic coupling. The first contact plateand the second plate may touch each other.

Thus, placing a temperature sensor in an in-the-ear hearing aid isadvantageous, since the ear is a preferably place to monitor temperatureduring a full day, the temperature is a good vital sign, the temperaturedrops a bit just before you get sick, and such measured temperature mayprovide a sign of metabolism, which might influence doses of medicationon a current day.

In general, the temperature sensor provided within the in-the-earhearing aid may be used to sense body temperature, for fitness purposes,for providing a temperature monitoring visual (e.g. for relatives,medical professionals), for health research, for health monitoring incase of chronic decease, for sensing if hearing instruments is on ear/oroff ear, for wear monitoring, i.e. to test how long time the instrumentshave been on the ear each day, for auto off/power safe control (e.g.turn off if temperature decreases by a certain amount after instrumenthave been above 36° C.), for recharge control (e.g. sense overheatingduring recharging which is most relevant for IIC's), for general testingif the device is overheating. In addition, information on thetemperature (history) may also be user to confirm guarantee cases e.g.by checking whether the device has been stored under a too hotcondition.

As a temperature sensor, a thermistor may be utilized, which is aresistor having a known temperature behavior. A prominent of suchthermistor is known as PT1000.

A thermistor is a good way to measure the temperature in the ear, sincethey can be small, accurate, gives a simple output signal and uses verylow power.

Further, temperature sensors integrated in integrated circuits may beutilized.

Further, temperature transistors (e.g. by evaluating a basis-emittervoltage thereof) may be used as such temperature sensor.

Finally, also temperature diodes may be used as a temperature sensor tobe arranged within the transducer air volume according to embodiments ofthe disclosure.

Infrared temperature measuring devices can also be utilized, but theseuse more power, give a more complicated signal and are significantlylarger, thus raising serious challenges with having it constantly in theear at the same time as having a speaker unit.

However, although the sensor 42 arranged within the transducer airvolume is preferably a temperature sensor, sensors in relation todetermination of pulse, blood sugar, blood pressure, electrooculography,oxygen saturation are preferable as well.

Subsequently, several options for placement of sensors or otherelectronic components are introduced, each providing specific advantagescorresponding to specific needs of respective sensors/components.

Now referring to FIG. 6 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, at least one sensor or at least one activeelectronic component 42 is placed within the transducer air volume 43.The transducer air volume 43 is air volume which is enclosed by saidcapsule 40 (enclosing at least the transducer sound active part 41) andwhich is in fluid-connection with said transducer sound active part 41(and may preferably by in fluid-connection with said capsule).

Here, “within” means directly within (i.e. in contact with andsurrounded by) the transducer air volume, or having a housing within(i.e. in contact with and surrounded by) the transducer air volume.Further, “within” also includes protruding into said transducer airvolume (with a portion or housing thereof). In other words, the at leastone sensor or said at least one active electronic component or a housingthereof at least protrudes into the transducer air volume.

The sensor/component is connected to the transducer (i.e.electronic/sound active part thereof) and/or to the connection tube 12(wires enclosed therein) via litz wires and/or via printed circuitboards and/or via flexible flat cables and/or via laser directstructuring (LSD/MID) on plastic. The connection of the sensor/component42 is not limited to the mentioned options.

Now referring to FIG. 7 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the sensor/component 42 may protrude into thecapsule 40 while still being within the transducer air volume 43.

Now referring to FIG. 8 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Comparable, as can be seen in FIG. 8, the sensor/component 42 may benearly embedded in the capsule 40 while still being within thetransducer air volume 43.

Now referring to FIG. 9 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) of areceiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the sensor/component 42 may penetrate thecapsule 40 while still being within the transducer air volume 43. Thecapsule may have a recess 91 at the position where the sensor/component42 penetrates the capsule 40.

Now referring to FIG. 10 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 10, the sensor/component 42 may penetrate thecapsule 40 while still being within the transducer air volume 43. Thesensor/component 42 may be covered by a cover element 101 at theposition where the sensor/component 42 penetrates the capsule 40. Thecover element may have characteristics facilitating or at least allowingfunctionalities of the sensor/component 42. For example, the coverelement 101 may be translucent and/or translucent while protecting thesensor/component 42 from mechanical impacts. The characteristics of thecover element 101 are not limited to the mentioned examples.

Now referring to FIG. 11 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 11, the sensor/component 42 may be provided inthe back of the electro-acoustic transducer instead of in front of it.

The sensor/component 42 may be provided anywhere within the capsule aslong as being within the transducer air volume.

Now referring to FIG. 12 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 12, the elastic dome 11 a may have a passagetherethrough. The capsule 40 defined by enclosing the transducer airvolume may include the elastic dome. The passage through the dome may bein fluid-connection with a receiver outlet of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice 11, while the receiver outlet of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice 11 is in fluid-connection with the transducer sound active part.

Hence, the sensor (or active electronic component) may be providedwithin the transducer air volume within the passage of the elastic dome11 a.

Consequently, when worn by the user, the user's ear canal may be influid-connection with the transducer sound active part.

Now referring to FIG. 13 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 12, the connection tube 12 may be connected to abehind-the-ear hearing aid device 13 and in particular with a housing 13a thereof accommodating a unit 131 (e.g. a processor) of thebehind-the-ear hearing aid device 13. A volume thereof influid-connection with a volume in the connection tube which in turn isin fluid connection with the transducer sound active part may thus housethe sensor (or active electronic component) 42 as well.

Now referring to FIG. 14 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

In particular, FIG. 14 illustrates schematically a potential electricallayout of an in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 comprising the transducersound active part 41 (which may also include transducer electronicsdriven by input signals) and an additional element 42, e.g. a sensor(preferably a temperature sensor) or an active electronic component.Both the transducer sound active part 41 and the additional element 42are enclosed by the capsule 40 of the transducer. In particular, theadditional element 42 is placed within the transducer air volume 43.

Both the transducer sound active part 41 and the additional element 42are connected to a wiring 141 which may pass through the connection tubeto the above-mentioned behind-the-ear hearing aid device and particularelectronic components thereof, e.g. a sound processor and/or a sensorcontrol part.

The transducer electronics/transducer sound active part 41 may belong toan output transducer (receiver) in fluid-connection with an outletopening or may belong to an input transducer (microphone) influid-connection with an inlet opening.

In other words, the additional element 42 may be placed in transducerair volume 43 of an electro-acoustic output transducer (receiver,speaker) or may be placed in transducer air volume 43 of anelectro-acoustic input transducer (microphone).

Now referring to FIG. 15 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Namely, beside for sensors in the acoustic volume, the transducer airvolume can also be used for pre-processors (digital signal processors,DSP's), pre-amplifiers, and AD/DA-converters (AD: analogue-digital; DA:digital-analogue) for e.g. electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes,galvanic skin response electrodes, electrooculography (EOG) electrodes,a digital speaker communication bus to the behind the ear unit, etc.

FIG. 15 illustrates schematically a potential electrical layout of anin-the-ear hearing aid device 11 with digital and analogue linkage tothe potential behind-the-ear hearing aid device.

Namely, while in FIG. 15 the electro-acoustic transducer 41 is connectedvia an analogue connection, further elements may be connected via adigital connection, in particular a digital bus, for example an I²C buscomprising wiring for power, ground, I²C clock and I²C data, wherein atleast three different states of the bus are applied in different timeslots, where a first state is for transfer of power, a second state isfor transmission of signal from a behind-the-ear hearing device to thein-the-ear hearing aid device, and a third state is for transmission ofsignal from the in-the-ear hearing aid device to the behind-the-earhearing device.

When separating in time the power transfer from the data transfer therisk of noise problems is reduced. The term different time slots refersto this separation in time of power transfer and data or signal transferin both directions. At the same time the invention facilitates a twowire bus without the need of any further electrical wires.

A bus is here understood to be a digital communication line which can beset up for communication between different units, suitable for carryingsignals in more than one direction. The bus is a serial databus, and ishere also understood to be able to transfer power.

In an embodiment of a hearing aid, a fourth state of the bus is addedwhich is set to low, i.e. to “0”, in order for the first state for powertransfer to start with a rising edge. Such a rising edge occurring at aknown place in the sequence is important in order to interpret thesignal on the bus.

The first state for transfer of power takes up at least 50%, preferablyat least 70%, of the time on the bus. This has been found to result in asufficiently small power loss and a not too large capacitor forsupplying power in the rest of the time.

The electro-acoustic transducer in the in-the-ear hearing aid device isconnected such that it will not draw any power in the time where data istransferred on the bus, but only in the time where power is transferred.This can be achieved by short-circuiting the receiver during thetransfer of data. The advantage of this will be that the receiver willnot need to draw power from a capacitor in the electro-acoustictransducer or in the in-the-ear hearing aid device during the time wherethere is no transfer of power from the behind-the-ear hearing device.This means that the capacitor in the electro-acoustic transducer or inthe in-the-ear hearing aid device can be made much smaller, since itwill only need to supply power to the electronic circuit of the ear plugpart. A smaller capacitor will also have smaller physical dimensions,whereby the electro-acoustic transducer or the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice can be made smaller. There are possible variations of thisembodiment, e.g. where the receiver draws power in a smaller part of thetime where data is transferred.

The additional elements placed within the transducer air volume may thusinclude, for example, a sensor, preferably a temperature sensor 42,linked via an AD converter 153, other sensors 151 (e.g. electrodes forEEG measurements or galvanic skin resistance measurements, light sensorsfor pulse or blood oxidation measurements, microphones, moisturesensors, capacitive touch sensors), a pre-amplifier 152 associated witha respective other sensor, the AD converter 153, RITE detectioncomponents 154, and sensor fusion circuitry 155, where at least aportion of the additional elements are connected to the mentioneddigital bus via the sensor fusion circuitry 155.

The at least one electro-acoustic transducer 41, and at least one sensor42 and/or the at least one active electronic component (151-154) areconnected to the wires 141 via a multiplexer (155). For example, thesensor signals may be merged with audio signals transmitted to theelectro-acoustic transducer 41 and transmitted via the same wires 141,by transmitting the sensor signals outside a passband of theelectro-acoustic transducer 41, e.g. below 100 HZ and above 10 KHz.

Now referring to FIG. 16 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates schematically a potential electrical layout of anin-the-ear hearing aid device 11 with digital linkage to the potentialbehind-the-ear hearing aid device.

Namely, while in FIG. 15 the electro-acoustic transducer 41 is connectedvia an analogue connection, in FIG. 16 both the further elements and theelectro-acoustic transducer 41 may be connected via a digitalconnection, in particular a digital bus, for example an I²C buscomprising wiring for power, ground, I²C clock and I²C data.

The additional elements placed within the transducer air volume may thusinclude, for example, a sensor, preferably a temperature sensor 42,linked via an AD converter 153, other sensors 151 (e.g. electrodes forEEG measurements or galvanic skin resistance measurements, light sensorsfor pulse or blood oxidation measurements, microphones, moisturesensors, capacitive touch sensors), a pre-amplifier 152 associated witha respective other sensor, the AD converter 153, RITE detectioncomponents 154, a DA converter 161 and an amplifier 162 for driving theelectro-acoustic transducer 41, and sensor fusion circuitry 155, whereat least a portion of the additional elements are connected to thementioned digital bus via the sensor fusion circuitry 155.

A portion of the additional elements (e.g. the pre-amplifier 152, the ADconverter 153, the RITE detection components 154, the DA converter 161,the amplifier 162, and the sensor fusion circuitry 155) may beintegrated in an integrated circuit (IC).

Now referring to FIG. 17 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 17 illustrates schematically a potential electrical layout of anin-the-ear hearing aid device 11 with digital linkage to the potentialbehind-the-ear hearing aid device.

Just like with FIG. 16, in FIG. 17 both the further elements and theelectro-acoustic transducer 41 are connected via a digital connection,in particular a digital bus, for example an I2C bus comprising wiringfor power, ground, I2C clock and I2C data.

In addition to the additional elements placed within the transducer airvolume of the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 illustrated in FIG. 16,the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 of FIG. 17 may further comprise adigital sensor 171 directly connected to the sensor fusion circuitry 155and a memory 172 for example storing calibration data in relation to theelectro-acoustic transducer and/or sensors or other active electroniccomponents placed within the transducer air volume 43.

A portion of the additional elements (e.g. the pre-amplifier 152, the ADconverter 153, the RITE detection components 154, the DA converter 161,the amplifier 162, the sensor fusion circuitry 155, and the memory 172)may be integrated in an integrated circuit (IC).

Now referring to FIG. 18 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As is illustrated in FIG. 18, the transducer air volume 43 of thein-the-ear hearing aid device 11 may be separated into two transducerair volumes which are not in fluid-connection with each other, a firsttransducer air volume 43A and a second transducer air volume 43B.

The two transducer air volumes may be separated from each other by aseparation part 182. The separation part may be at least a portion ofthe transducer sound active part. For example, the separation part 182may be the membrane (diaphragm) of an electro-acoustic outputtransducer.

In FIG. 18, the transducer air volume 43 is separated into an uppertransducer air volume (e.g. first transducer air volume) and a lowertransducer air volume (e.g. second transducer air volume). However, thetwo transducer air volumes are not limited to being arranged one abovethe other. Contrary thereto, the two transducer air volumes may also bearranged side by side or in any other relation to each other as long asbeing enclosed by the capsule 40 and being not in fluid connection toeach other. Nevertheless, for ease of illustration and understanding, inthe following is referred to upper and lower transducer air volumes, butthe explanation is applicable as well two transducer air volumes in anyother relation mentioned above.

One of the two transducer air volumes may be in fluid connection with a(sound) inlet/outlet 183 of the in-the-ear hearing aid.

Elements 181 of the transducer, e.g. magnets and coils, may be arrangedin one of the two separated transducer air volumes.

At least one sensor (or active electronic component) 42 may be placedwithin one of the two separated transducer air volumes.

In FIG. 18, the at least one sensor (or active electronic component) 42is placed within the upper transducer air volume.

Now referring to FIG. 19 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

In particular, FIG. 19 illustrates another view of the in-the-earhearing aid device 11 shown in FIG. 18.

The elements 181 of the transducer may be grouped together to a group ofelements 191 of the transducer. This group of elements may be enclosedby a respective housing, as shown in FIG. 19, but is not limited to suchimplementation.

Now referring to FIG. 20 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 20, more than one sensors (or active electroniccomponents) 42 may be placed within the upper transducer air volume.

For specific measurement applications, at least an emitting device and areceiving device are necessary.

In the example shown in FIG. 20, two emitting devices 42 (e.g. lightemitting diodes) and one receiving device 201 (e.g. light receivingelement) are arranged to measure any characteristic of measurementobject 202 e.g. using light (indicated by arrows in FIG. 20) reflectedfrom the measurement object 202. The measurement may be effected throughopenings or specifically featured walls of the capsule. Measurementapplications are not limited to such arrangement.

Now referring to FIG. 21 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Contrary to FIG. 18, in FIG. 21, the at least one sensor (or activeelectronic component) 42 is placed within the lower transducer airvolume.

The at least one sensor may be placed within the larger of the twoseparated transducer air volumes. Since in such case the at least sensoris arranged within the larger of the two transducer air volumes, aneffect of the at least one sensor on the acoustic characteristics of thetransducer is not noticeable to the user.

Now referring to FIG. 22 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

In particular, FIG. 22 illustrates another view of the in-the-earhearing aid device 11 shown in FIG. 21.

Now referring to FIG. 23 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 23, more than one sensors (or active electroniccomponents) 42 may be placed within the upper transducer air volume.

For specific measurement applications, at least an emitting device and areceiving device are necessary.

However, the output of the at least one emitting device may disturb thereceiving performance of the at least one receiving device. Accordingly,in the example illustrated in FIG. 23, a line of sight between the atleast one emitting device and the at least one receiving device isshielded. The line of sight may be shielded by a portion of theelectro-acoustic transducer, e.g. the group of elements 191 or therespective housing thereof. However, the shielding may be effected byother elements as well, for example by any of the additional sensors (oractive electronic components) 42. The shielding is not limited to thelower transducer air volume. Namely, such shielding can also be effectedin case the elements necessary for measurement are arranged within theupper transducer air volume. Further, one of the at least one emittingdevice and the at least one receiving device may be placed within theupper transducer air volume while the other of the at least one emittingdevice and the at least one receiving device is placed within the lowertransducer air volume. In such way, the shielding may be effected by theseparation part 182.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, two emitting devices 42 (e.g. lightemitting diodes) and one receiving device 201 (e.g. light receivingelement) are arranged in the lower transducer air volume to measure anycharacteristic of measurement object 202 e.g. using light (indicated byarrows in FIG. 20) reflected from the measurement object 202. Thereceiving device 201 may be made large by providing the same on asurface or part of the capsule. The measurement may be effected throughopenings or specifically featured walls of the capsule. Measurementapplications are not limited to such arrangement.

Now referring to FIG. 24 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

In particular, FIG. 24 illustrates openings or specifically featuredwalls of the capsule 40 of the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11.

As can be seen in FIG. 24, the capsule 40 may comprise openings 241corresponding to intended effective directions/ranges of the emittingdevices and receiving devices arranged within the transducer air volume43 enclosed by the capsule 40.

In order to protect the interior from impacts from the outside of thein-the-ear hearing aid device 11, instead of providing openings 241 inthe capsule 40, the regions of (a respective wall of) the capsule mayhave a characteristic allowing the intended effect of the emittingdevices and receiving devices arranged within the transducer air volume43. For example, the capsule 40 may be provided with opticallytransparent regions 241.

The regions 241 of the capsule having the characteristic allowing theintended effect of the emitting devices and receiving devices arrangedwithin the transducer air volume 43 may have a function to shield theinterior of the capsule (e.g. coils and magnets of the electro-acoustictransducer) from electromagnetic waves of a specified wave range toavoid any disturbance of the acoustic performance of theelectro-acoustic transducer. For example, the regions 241 may bedesigned such that electromagnetic waves having a frequency lower than apredetermined noise shielding frequency are prevented from entering thecapsule through the regions, while e.g. light is still allowed to exitand enter the capsule via the regions 241.

As is illustrated in FIG. 24, such regions 241 may be provided byoptically transparent material.

Now referring to FIG. 25 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As is illustrated in FIG. 25, such regions 241 may be provided by a meshensuring that electromagnetic waves having a frequency lower than apredetermined noise shielding frequency are prevented from entering thecapsule through the regions, while e.g. light is still allowed to exitand enter the capsule via the regions 241.

Now referring to FIG. 26 which illustrates an in-the-ear part (unit) ofa receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As is illustrated in FIG. 26, additional elements may be distributedover both of the upper and lower (first and second) transducer airvolume.

For example, while a measurement arrangement as explained with referenceto FIG. 23 is provided within the lower transducer air volume,additional sensors and/or active electronic components 261 may beprovided within the upper transducer air volume. The positioning of themeasurement arrangement additional sensors and/or active electroniccomponents 261 is however not limited to the example shown in FIG. 26.

If sensors/components are placed in both volumes (i.e. within the upperand lower transducer air volumes), the wiring between thecomponents/sensors in both volumes may go through the separation part182 (e.g. the diaphragm) or may be guided by an outside surface of thecapsule. For example, a wire may exit the second volume through a wallof the capsule and then enter the first volume through a wall of thecapsule. The wire outside the capsule may be guided via a guidingportion (tube or any kind of a hollow portion). The guiding portion maybe mounted to the outside surface of the capsule or may be built intothe wall of the capsule. The guiding portion may also be placed on theinside of the capsule going through separation part 182 (e.g. thediaphragm).

Now referring to FIG. 27 which illustrates a receiver-in-the-ear hearingaid in a communication scenario according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 27, the receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid shown inFIG. 1 and further specified in relation to any of the foregoing Figurescan be configured for communication (preferably wireless communication)with an external device 271.

The external device may for example be a Smartphone. A communicationpart of the receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid which is configured forcommunication with an external device may be provided, for example, inin-the-ear hearing aid device 11 or in the behind-the-ear hearing aiddevice 13 and may comprise, for example, a transmission and/or receptioncontrolling circuitry and an antenna. While it is preferable to providethe communication part in the behind-the-ear hearing aid device 13 forkeeping the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 as small as possible, it isalso possible to integrate the communication part with a sensor (e.g.the temperature sensor) provided in the in-the-ear hearing aid device11. At least, the sensor (e.g. the temperature sensor) provided in thein-the-ear hearing aid device 11 is connected to the communication part.

By means of the communication part, the sensor (e.g. the temperaturesensor) may be connected with the external device e.g. via wirelesslocal area network (WLAN), Bluetooth low energy, Nearlink or othertechniques and can share the temperature (in general, the measurementresult) wirelessly to the external device. The connection between thesensor and/or the active electronic component and the external devicemay be initiated by the sensor and/or the active electronic component orby the external device.

The connection may be established by a signal processor arranged withinthe transducer air volume or in a hearing aid device based on a securitysignal provided by a security mean. The security mean may receive arequest signal from the external device, wherein the request signalincludes an identification code identifying the external device. Thesecurity mean may accept the request signal if the identification (ID)code is identical to a stored ID code in a volatile memory/none-volatilememory being arranged within the transducer air volume or a hearing aiddevice.

The thus shared measurement result may be transmitted via the internetto other devices, and/or may be displayed on the external device or onseparate devices.

The measurement results may thus also be shared with known online oroffline health or fitness applications provided by the external deviceor any server connected to the internet. For example, the measurementresults may be shared with a (an online) public health system.

The measurement results can thus also be shared with relatives or withthe medical professionals, e.g. a doctor.

In an aspect, the functions may be stored on or encoded as one or moreinstructions or code on a tangible computer-readable medium. Thecomputer readable medium includes computer storage media adapted tostore a computer program comprising program codes, which when run on aprocessing system causes the data processing system to perform at leastsome (such as a majority or all) of the steps of the method describedabove, in the and in the claims.

By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media cancomprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in theform of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by acomputer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD),laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk andBlu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, whilediscs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Inaddition to being stored on a tangible medium, the computer program canalso be transmitted via a transmission medium such as a wired orwireless link or a network, e.g. the Internet, and loaded into a dataprocessing system for being executed at a location different from thatof the tangible medium.

In an aspect, a data processing system comprising a processor adapted toexecute the computer program for causing the processor to perform atleast some (such as a majority or all) of the steps of the methoddescribed above and in the claims.

FIG. 28A illustrates the main arteries located in vicinity to an earcanal 301, the so-called Superficial temporal artery 303, Anteriorauricular artery 304, Maxillary artery 305, Posterior auricular artery306, Internal carotid artery 307 (not shown in the figure) and Externalcarotid artery 308. FIG. 28B illustrates the ear canal 301 having alongitudinal axis 309 extending from the opening of the ear canal 301towards 312B the eardrum of the ear canal 301. The ear canal 301 has atransverse axis 310 extending orthogonal or partially orthogonal to thelongitudinal axis 309. Where the longitudinal axis 309 and thetransverse axis 310 intersects each other within the ear canal 301defines a centre point 302 in the ear canal 301. Each main artery (304,305, 306, 307, 308) is positioned relative to the ear canal 301 asfollowing;

-   -   External carotid artery 308 or Internal carotid artery 307 is        positioned below the ear canal 301 and within a line of sight        angle 311 defined from the centre point 302 in the ear canal 301        directed along the transverse axis 310, and where the line of        sight angle 311 is between 45° and 120°, between 90° and 110°,        and between 35° and 160°,    -   Internal carotid artery 307 is partly positioned below and above        the ear canal 301 and within a line of sight angle 311 defined        from the centre point 302 in the ear canal 301 directed along        the transverse axis 310 or the longitudinal axis 309 inwards        312B the ear canal 301, and where the line of sight angle 311 is        between 45° and 120°, between 90° and 110°, and between 35° and        160°,    -   Posterior auricular artery 306 is positioned below the ear canal        301 and within a line of angle 311 defined from the centre point        302 in the ear canal 301 directed along the transverse axis 310,        and where the line of sight angle 311 is between 10° and 45°,        between 5° and 25°, and between 90° and 110°,    -   Superficial temporal artery 303 is positioned above the ear        canal 301 and within a line of sight angle 311 defined from the        centre point 302 in the ear canal 301 directed along the        transverse axis 310 and in a forward direction towards a face of        the user, and where the line of sight angle 311 is between 10°        and 45°, between 5° and 25°, and between 90° and 110, and    -   Anterior auricular artery 304 and Maxillary artery 305, are        positioned within a line of sight angle 311 defined from the        centre point 302 in the ear canal 301 directed along the        transverse axis 310 and in a forward direction towards a face of        the user, and where the line of sight angle 311 is between 10°        and 45°, between 5° and 25°, and between 90° and 110.

FIG. 29 illustrates different positions of the at least one sensor 22,42 and/or the at one active electronic component 22, 42 within thetransducer air volume 43. The capsule 40 or the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice 11 has a first end 314 and a second end 315, wherein the outletopening or inlet opening 183 is positioned closest to the first end 314.FIG. 29A illustrates said at least one sensor 22, 42 and said at leastone active electronic component arranged within the transducer airvolume 43 and on an inner surface of a wall of the capsule 11, 40, or onan outer surface of a wall of the capsule 11, 40 where the wiring to theat least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent 22, 42 enters the transducer air volume 43. FIG. 29Billustrates said at least one sensor 22, 42 and said at least one activeelectronic component 22, 42 arranged closest to the first end 314. FIG.29C illustrates a further example, where said at least one sensor 22, 42and two active electronic components 22, 42 are arranged closest to thefirst end 314.

The at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent 22, 42 may be placed partly within the transducer air volume43 and on an inner surface of a wall of the capsule 11, 40, or on anouter surface of a wall of the capsule 11, 40 where the wiring to the atleast one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent 22, 42 enters the transducer air volume 43.

FIG. 30 illustrates different positions of the at least one sensor 22,42 and/or the at one active electronic component 22, 42 within thetransducer air volume 43. Both the inner surface of the wall and theouter surface of the wall of the capsule 11, 40 may have a corner and anedge. FIG. 30A illustrates the at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the atleast one active electronic component 22, 42 arranged at the corner orat the edge of the capsule 11, 40, thereby, the sensor and/or the activeelectronic component 22, 42 are placed near the skin 313 of the earcanal 301.

FIG. 30B illustrates a centre axis 316 of a wall of the capsule 11, 40.The at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent 22, 42 may be arranged around the centre axis 316.

FIG. 31 illustrates a mechanical interface 318 of the capsule 40 or thein-the-ear hearing aid device 11. The inlet opening 183 or the outletopening 183 may have a mechanical interface 318 configured to receive anearpiece 11 a. Normally, the mechanical interface 183, 318 is symmetricin all directions, i.e. a user of the in-the-ear hearing aid device 40has the possibility of mounting the earpiece 11 a to the mechanicalinterface 318 such that the at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the atleast one active electronic component 22, 42 is positioned wronglywithin the ear canal 301 of the user.

FIG. 31A illustrate the mechanical interface 318 having two symmetricalaxes 320A, 320B, wherein the number of possible angles for mounting theearpiece 11 a to the mechanical interface 318 has reduced to one or twoways, respectively. The shape of the mechanical interface 318 providesthe two symmetrical axes 320A, 320B. Thereby, the usability has improvedbecause the possibility of placing the earpiece 11 a such that the atleast one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electroniccomponent 22, 42 is arranged wrongly within the ear canal 301 hasreduced significantly.

Furthermore, FIG. 31A illustrates the capsule 11, 40 having both theoutlet opening 183 and the inlet opening 183.

FIG. 31B illustrates the mechanical interface 318 with one symmetricalaxis 320A.

FIG. 31C illustrates another example of the mechanical interface 318with two symmetrical axes 320A and 320B.

FIG. 31D illustrates another example of the mechanical interface 318with two symmetrical axes 320A and 320B.

FIG. 32 illustrates for the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 comprisingan optical system including the at least one sensor 22, 42 which may bea photodetector, and the at least one active electronic component 22, 42which may be one or more light emitting diodes. Several problems mayoccur in the optical system, such as light from outside may ruin themeasurement of the at least one sensor P1, light from the light emittingdiode(s) may be seen from outside when the user is in darkness P2,reflections from the skin surface 313 of the ear canal 301, P3, andlight from outside exiting through the skin of the ear canal 301 and into the at least one sensor P4.

FIG. 33 illustrates the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11 with anearpiece 11A. The earpiece 11A comprises a receiving mean 320 configuredto be attached to the mechanical interface 318 of the in-the-ear hearingaid device 11. The earpiece 11A comprises a flexible portion 321configured to encircle the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11, and theearpiece 11A comprises a sealing portion 322 connected to the flexibleportion 321, wherein the sealing portion 322 is configured to sealaround the connection tube 12 or around the second end 315 of thecapsule 40 or the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11. The sealing portion322 is configured to prevent light from the surroundings to reach thesensor 22, 42.

The flexible portion 321 may be made of a flexible material, such as afoam, memory foam, silicon or any kind of a flexible material suitablefor an-in-the-ear hearing aid device 11.

The flexible portion 321 may comprise a first section 321A beingcoloured such that any light is prevented from entering a volume 323encircled by the earpiece 11A. The colour of the first section 321A maybe black. The flexible portion 321 may comprise a second section 321Bbeing coloured such that the light emitted from a light emitting diode(LED) 22,42, i.e. the at least one active electronic component 22, 42,is able to be transmitted through the earpiece 11A and to the body ofthe user. Furthermore, the second section 321B is further configured toallow physical information and/or biometric signals generated based onthe light emitted by the LED 22, 42 to pass through the earpiece 11A andto reach the sensor 22, 42.

The earpiece 11A may comprise a first vent 324 and a second vent 325,where the first vent 324 has a line of sight directed outwards, and thesecond vent 325 has a line of sight directed inwards. The vents 324, 325are configured to reduce or eliminate occlusion effect.

When the earpiece 11A is in the ear canal 301, the first vent 324 isexposed to unwanted light since it is pointing outwards, and the secondvent 325 is not exposed to unwanted light, for example from the sun,because it is pointing inwards, e.g. towards the tympanic membrane ofthe ear canal 301. Therefore, if the first vent 324 is a straight holethen unwanted light from the sun will not be prevented from entering thevolume 323 enclosed by the flexible portion 321. Therefore, the firstvent 324 may have an obstacle 326 configured to prevent light fromentering the first vent.

FIG. 34 illustrates different examples of an earpiece 11A. FIG. 34Aillustrates an earpiece attached to the mechanical interface 318 of thein-the-ear hearing aid device 11 or the capsule 40 of theelectro-acoustic transducer. The earpiece 11A comprises a flexibleportion 321 configured to provide a force to the skin 313 of the earcanal 301, and thereby, forcing the capsule 40 or the in-the-ear hearingaid device 11 towards the skin 313 of the ear canal 301. The distancebetween the at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one activeelectronic component 22, 42 is minimized.

A surface of the capsule 40 which the line of sight of the at least onesensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electronic component 22, 42is directed through is arranged close to the skin 313 of the ear canal301 because of the flexible portion 321. The flexible portion 321 may beshaped as a half dome. In this example, the at least one sensor 22, 42and/or the at least one active electronic component 22, 42 is positionedwithin the transducer air volume 43 and closest to the surface. Theearpiece 11A may further comprise a second portion 327 which is appliedon to the surface of the capsule 40. The second portion 327 is arrangedsuch that a distance between the surface and the skin 313 of the earcanal 301 is about equal to a thickness of the second portion 327. Thesecond portion 327 may comprise at least two guiding means 328, 328configured to guide the signals being transmitted by the at least oneactive electronic component 22, 42 and received by the at least onesensor 22, 42. In FIG. 34B, the earpiece comprises the flexible portionas described in FIG. 34A, but does not comprise the second portion. Inthis example, the at least one sensor and/or the at least one activeelectronic component 22, 42 is arranged outside the transducer airvolume but a signal processor or wire connected to the sensor 22, 42and/or the component 22, 42 is arranged within the transducer air volume43. At least one side of the at least one sensor 22/42 and/or the atleast one active electronic component 22, 42 is coated with anon-transparent material configured to prevent unwanted light tointerfere with the physiological information or biometric signalgenerated by the at least one sensor 22, 42.

FIG. 34C illustrates an earpiece 11A which is dome shaped and providedto the mechanical interface 318. A second earpiece 11B is arrangedclosest to the second end 315, wherein the second earpiece 11B isconfigured to prevent unwanted light to interfere with the physiologicalinformation or biometric signal generated by the at least one sensor 22,42.

In one example the first earpiece may be transparent while the secondearpiece may not be transparent.

FIG. 34D illustrates an earpiece 11A which partly encloses the capsule40 or the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11. The earpiece 11A may be madeout of a foam material, and wherein the earpiece comprises guidingmeans.

FIG. 35 illustrates different examples of an earpiece 11A. FIG. 35Aillustrates the earpiece being a regular dome shaped and wherein a lens329 is provided in front of the at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the atleast one active electronic component 22, 42. The lens 329 is configuredto optically focus the light being emitted by the at least one activeelectronic component 22, 42 and/or the light being received by the atleast one sensor 22, 42.

FIG. 35B illustrates the capsule 40 and/or the in-the-hearing aid device11 with the earpiece 11A and another earpiece 11B, wherein at least onesensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electronic component 22, 42is positioned between the two earpieces 11A, 11B, and wherein at leastone sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one active electronic component22, 42 is positioned on an opposite side of the earpiece 11A. In FIG.35C, the earpiece is replaced with a separator 330 configured toseparate the at least one sensor 22, 42 and/or the at least one activeelectronic component 22, 42.

FIG. 36 illustrates different examples of guiding means 328. In FIG.36A, the guiding means 328 are formed by skirts guiding the lightemitted by the at least one active electronic component 22, 42 andforcing the light to enter the skin 313 of the ear canal 301. In FIG.36B, the guiding means 328 are formed by soft tubes.

The guiding means may be made of a non-transparent material.

FIG. 37 illustrates the in-the-ear hearing aid device 11, wherein an EEGmonitoring system 42 is arranged partly in the transducer air volume 43,i.e. in the first transducer air volume 43A in this example. The atleast sensor 22, 151, which in this example comprises one or moreelectrodes, is arranged outside and on the capsule 40. An EEG signalprocessor is part of the EEG monitoring system.

It is intended that the structural features of the devices describedabove, either in the detailed description and/or in the claims, may becombined with steps of the method, when appropriately substituted by acorresponding process.

As used, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at least one”),unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood thatthe terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred toas being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element but an intervening elementsmay also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore,“connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connectedor coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps ofany disclosed method is not limited to the exact order stated herein,unless expressly stated otherwise.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to“one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an aspect” or features includedas “may” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features,structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or moreembodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspectsdescribed herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other aspects.

The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein,but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of theclaims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intendedto mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather“one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some”refers to one or more.

Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims thatfollow.

1. An in-the-ear hearing aid device, comprising at least oneelectro-acoustic transducer, wherein said at least one electro-acoustictransducer comprises a capsule enclosing a transducer sound active partand a transducer air volume, wherein said transducer sound active partcomprises at least one of a membrane, a diaphragm, an electromagneticmechanism, and a sound vibrating unit, and said transducer air volume isair volume which is enclosed by said capsule and which is influid-connection with said transducer sound active part, wherein saidcapsule forms a housing of said at least one electro-acoustictransducer; and an electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring systemconfigured to monitor EEG signals of a person wearing the hearing aid,said EEG monitoring system being at least partly arranged in saidtransducer air volume, said EEG monitoring including at least one sensorconfigured to measure the EEG signals, wherein at least a portion ofsaid at least one sensor is either arranged on an outer surface of saidcapsule, or incorporated as part of an outer wall of said capsule, and aprocessor configured to, on the basis of the EEG signals, identify orpredict a biological incidence.
 2. The in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises aplurality of EEG electrodes.
 3. The in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to, inresponse to identifying or predicting the biological incidence, outputan alarm or information of said biological incidence, said alarm orinformation being outputted via said at least one electro-acoustictransducer or outputted via a wireless link to an external device. 4.The in-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 3, wherein theprocessor is configured to output the alarm or the information to theexternal device, the external device being a smartphone.
 5. Thein-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein thebiological incidence, which the processor is configured to identify orpredict, includes hypoglycemia.
 6. The in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the biological incidence, which theprocessor is configured to identify or predict, includesless-than-optimal hearing, the EEG monitoring system being configured toadjust a volume level of the at least one electro-acoustical transducer.7. The in-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein saidprocessor is arranged in said transducer air volume.
 8. The in-the-earhearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein at least part of saidcapsule forms an exterior housing of said in-the-ear hearing aid devicedefining an outer contour of said in-the-ear hearing aid device.
 9. Thein-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said capsuleincludes a receiver outlet of the in-the-ear hearing aid device, whereina passage through said receiver outlet is in fluid-connection with anoutlet opening in said housing of said at least one electro-acoustictransducer, wherein said outlet opening is in fluid-connection with saidtransducer sound active part.
 10. The in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said capsule includes a connection tube,wherein a passage through said connection tube is in fluid-connectionwith an opening in a housing of a behind-the-ear hearing aid device. 11.The in-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein saidcapsule includes a microphone inlet of the in-the-ear hearing aiddevice, wherein a passage through said microphone inlet is influid-connection with an inlet opening in said housing of said at leastone electro-acoustic transducer, wherein said inlet opening is influid-connection with said transducer sound active part.
 12. Thein-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said atleast one electro-acoustic transducer is one of a microphone and areceiver.
 13. The in-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1,further comprising at least one of the following within the transducerair volume: a temperature sensing element, a light sensing element, asound sensing element, a moisture sensing element, a blood oximetrysensor including at least two light emitting elements and a lightsensing element, a blood pressure sensor, a blood sugar sensor, a pulsesensor, a hydration sensor, a galvanic skin response electrode, and anelectrooculography electrode.
 14. The in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein said capsule comprises at least onemeasurement opening, and said at least one measurement opening isprovided with an electromagnetic filter configured to preventelectromagnetic waves having a frequency lower than a predeterminednoise shielding frequency from entering said capsule through said atleast one measurement opening.
 15. The in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein said electromagnetic filter comprises atleast one of a mesh, an optically transparent material and/or saidpredetermined noise shielding frequency is anyone of not audiblefrequencies.
 16. The in-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 1,wherein said transducer air volume is separated by said transducer soundactive part into a first transducer air volume and a second transducerair volume not in fluid-connection with said first transducer airvolume, said first transducer air volume is larger in volume than saidsecond transducer air volume, and said EEG monitoring system is at leastpartly arranged within said first transducer air volume.
 17. Thein-the-ear hearing aid device according to claim 16, wherein at least aportion of at least another sensor or of at least another activeelectronic component is provided within said second transducer airvolume.
 18. A hearing aid, comprising said in-the-ear hearing aid deviceaccording to claim 1, a behind-the-ear hearing aid device, and acoupling element configured to mechanically and/or electrically connectsaid in-the-ear hearing aid device and said behind-the-ear hearing aiddevice.